Tag Archives: european crisis

This week, the Forum for European Journalism Students took place in Utrecht, where 100 participants discussed the topic Imagine Europe. I was not there, so I’m not very sure about what they imagined. Instead, I was surfing here and there to see what was said this week about this big Europe thing. And, oh surprise! The brand new Eurobarometer 2012 was out!

Not that I particularly like statistics. As a matter of fact, it’s kind of reminds me of my years working as a telephone operator. That sweet time where I could skillfully piss someone off by only saying “Good evening, Sir!” Anyway, I figured that in the case of the Eurobarometer statistics, hopefully, some conscientious people would have done their job and done it right. So I’ve checked out those stats to see a bit what actually people think and whether it confirms, like some would say, the fact that this Union might be slowly going to its end.

As a matter of fact, EU does have an end (Cabo da Roca, Portugal – westernmost point of Europe)

Capitalism is a subject that stirs feelings. As much as it moves money, it moves emotions: thousands of people gather in the streets to criticize it, while not-so-many-thousands (figuratively) pray in appreciation of the profit they make out of this system. However – and more than hate or an acute thankful sensation -, capitalism brings out beautiful romances.

Over thirty years ago, one of the most emblematic romances of our time was born: Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were protagonists of an ideological union based on politics and economy that changed the world. Sharing distrust on communism and highly possibly a plate of pasta (much like the scene in The Lady and The Tramp), they led in the direction of privatization and a firm affirmation of the West. While some of us were left to mild foreplay like whips and kisses, Thatcher and Reagan were playing world domination.